Vehicle for driving

Abstract

This traveling vehicle (10) comprises a body (14) having a seat (18) in which a user (U) can sit, and a plurality of wheels (16) provided to the body (14), the height of a seat surface (20) of the seat (18) being lower than the upper parts of the plurality of wheels (16). In the body (14), a battery accommodation section (70) that accommodates a battery (60) is provided to a side of the seat (18). At least part of the battery accommodation section (70) overlaps the seat (18) in a side view of the body (14), and the battery accommodation section (70) is tilted such that a rear end part (74) is positioned higher than a front end part (72).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle that runs on power supplied from a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, from the viewpoints of convenience and environmental protection, electric vehicles equipped with batteries have been developed. Vehicles used for racing or recreational purposes are no exception. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-60806 discloses an electric racing kart (vehicle) equipped with a motor and a battery that supplies power to the motor. This vehicle has a pair of batteries on either side of the seat where the user sits. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The vehicle disclosed in JP 2007-60806 A has a battery located to the side of the seat, which exposes the battery to a large amount of wind while the vehicle is in motion. Racing vehicles, in particular, are lightweight and are therefore susceptible to wind and therefore prone to disruption. Furthermore, if a large battery is installed in a vehicle for extended driving, the battery may obstruct the user's view to the side while seated.

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle that ensures sufficient visibility and reduces the effects of wind while driving, thereby further improving driving stability.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle for running, comprising a vehicle body having a seat on which a user can sit, and a plurality of wheels provided on the vehicle body, wherein the height of at least a portion of the seat surface is lower than the top of the plurality of wheels, and wherein the vehicle body has a battery storage section on the side of the seat for storing a battery, and the battery storage section is inclined so that, when viewed from the side of the vehicle body, at least a portion of the battery storage section overlaps the seat and its rear end is positioned higher than its front end.

[0006] The above-described vehicle ensures sufficient visibility and reduces the influence of wind while traveling, thereby further improving driving stability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a racing kart, which is a traveling vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a racing kart. [Figure 3] Fig. 3A is a side view schematically showing the arrangement of the rear wheel, the seat, and the battery case, and Fig. 3B is a side view schematically showing the state in which the battery is housed in the battery case. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view of a racing kart according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1 , a vehicle 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured as an electric racing kart (hereinafter simply referred to as racing kart 12) for use in dedicated racing tracks, amusement facilities, and the like. Racing kart 12 includes a body 14 and a plurality (four) of wheels 16 attached to body 14. Body 14 has a seat 18 for a user U, who is the driver, to sit on. In this type of racing kart 12, the height (position in the vehicle height direction) of at least a portion of a seat surface 20 of seat 18, on which the user U's buttocks rest, is set lower than the height of the upper parts of the plurality of wheels 16 (more specifically, upper ends 17), in order to minimize the effects of wind while the car is running. Furthermore, a backrest 22 of seat 18 is inclined rearward and upward from seat surface 20. Note that vehicle 10 is not limited to racing kart 12 and may be, for example, a vehicle that can be driven on public roads, an entertainment toy, or the like. Furthermore, the seat surface 20 of the seat 18 may be provided horizontally relative to the road surface R, and the backrest 22 of the seat 18 may be provided vertically or approximately vertically relative to the horizontally provided seat surface 20.

[0010] The racing kart 12 is for one person, and the body 14 is configured to be short (compact) in the front-to-rear direction. The length of the body 14 in the front-to-rear direction is set to be, for example, in the range of about 1 m to 2 m. The width of the body 14 is even shorter than the length of the body 14 in the front-to-rear direction. The seat 18 is provided on a center line CL in the vehicle width direction of the body 14. The body 14 has a pair of front wheels 16f (part of the four wheels 16) in front of the seat 18, and a pair of rear wheels 16r (part of the four wheels 16) behind the seat 18.

[0011] The body 14 of the racing kart 12 is formed by assembling together a main panel 24 that extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a seat 18 fixed to its upper surface, and a plurality of frames 26 that are fixed to the main panel 24. The main panel 24 has appropriate rigidity and is formed to be approximately the same width as the seat 18, and forms the floor of the racing kart 12. The legs of a user U seated on the seat 18 are positioned so that they are stretched forward along the main panel 24.

[0012] 1 and 2, a steering mechanism 28 for steering the pair of front wheels 16f is provided on the front side of the main panel 24. The steering mechanism 28 has a steering shaft 30 that tilts rearward and upward, and a handle 32 that is gripped and operated by a user U is provided at the upper end of the steering shaft 30. The centers of the steering shaft 30 and the handle 32 are located on the center line CL of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The steering mechanism 28 combines a frame, hinges, and the like (not shown) below the steering shaft 30 to change the amount of steering of the pair of front wheels 16f in accordance with the amount of rotation of the steering shaft 30. The steering shaft 30 is journaled on a journal frame 34 that is fixed to the main panel 24 at a position below the seat 18. The journal frame 34 extends obliquely forward and upward from the main panel 24. A starter switch (not shown) that turns the racing kart 12 on and off is provided on the surface of the journal frame 34 facing the user U.

[0014] The steering shaft 30 is covered by a steering cowl 36. The steering cowl 36 extends to a front frame 26a (part of the multiple frames 26) connected to the main panel 24. A front bumper 38 that absorbs impacts from the front of the vehicle body 14 is provided further forward than the front frame 26a.

[0015] An accelerator pedal 40 and a brake pedal 42, each consisting of a plurality of frames 26, are provided in front of the main panel 24. The accelerator pedal 40 and the brake pedal 42 are provided so as to sandwich the steering shaft 30 (steering cowl 36) therebetween. For example, the accelerator pedal 40 is located on the right side of the steering shaft 30 as seen from the user U, and the sole of the user U's right foot is placed on the accelerator pedal 40 when the user U drives the racing kart 12. The brake pedal 42 is located on the left side of the steering shaft 30 as seen from the user U, and the sole of the user U's left foot is placed on the brake pedal 42 when the user U drives the racing kart 12.

[0016] The accelerator pedal 40 is provided so as to be operable on an accelerator mechanism 41 fixed to the main panel 24. The accelerator mechanism 41 electrically or mechanically transmits the accelerator operation amount (depression amount of the accelerator pedal 40) of the user U to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 56 (described later) for driving control. The brake pedal 42 is provided so as to be operable on a brake mechanism 43 fixed to the main panel 24. For example, the brake mechanism 43 may be configured (hydraulic, wire, etc.) to mechanically apply a braking force to braking units (not shown) that brake the pair of front wheels 16f and rear wheels 16r.

[0017] The vehicle body 14 also includes a pair of side bumpers 44 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The pair of side bumpers 44 extend in the front-to-rear direction (vehicle length direction) of the vehicle body 14 between the front wheels 16f and the rear wheels 16r. The outer side surfaces of the pair of side bumpers 44 in the vehicle width direction protrude slightly outward beyond the respective wheels 16. The inner sides of each side bumper 44 are connected to a pair of side frames 26b extending in the vehicle width direction from the main panel 24 and to a storage frame 26c that supports a battery case 70 (described later).

[0018] A rear frame 26d, which extends rearward beyond the seat 18, is connected to the rear of the main panel 24. The rear frame 26d rotatably supports an axle 46 that extends in the vehicle width direction. A rear wheel 16r is fixed to each of both ends of the axle 46 in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] The rear frame 26d is provided with a PU (Power Unit) 52, which is an integral part of the motor 48 and a power adjustment unit 50 that adjusts the power supplied to the motor 48. The PU 52 constitutes part of the electrical equipment of the racing kart 12 and is disposed on the vehicle width centerline CL at the rear of the vehicle body 14. The upper end of the PU 52 is lower in the vehicle height direction than the upper end 22t of the backrest 22, and is fixed to the rear side of the seat 18 (at a position overlapping with the backrest 22 in a front-to-rear view of the vehicle body 14). The PU 52 is provided at a position where at least a portion of the PU 52 overlaps with the pair of rear wheels 16r in a side view of the vehicle body 14. Note that, although the PU 52 is provided behind the pair of rear wheels 16r in this embodiment, the PU 52 may be provided adjacent to the rear of the seat 18 (in front of the pair of rear wheels 16r) as long as at least a portion of the PU 52 overlaps with the pair of rear wheels 16r in a side view of the vehicle body 14. At least a portion of the PU 52 is fixed to the rear side of the seat 18 (at a position overlapping the backrest 22 when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 14), which reduces the effect of wind from the front. This allows the racing kart 12 to travel while reducing resistance to wind. Furthermore, at least a portion of the PU 52 is provided in a position overlapping the pair of rear wheels 16r when viewed from the side of the vehicle body 14, which allows a load to be applied to a position near each rear wheel 16r, thereby increasing the grip of each rear wheel 16r. This means that the traveling stability of the racing kart 12 can be improved.

[0020] The motor 48 rotates based on the power supply from the battery 60, which serves as a power source, and rotates the axle 46 via the driving force transmission mechanism 54. The motor 48 may be either an AC motor or a DC motor, as long as it can output an appropriate rotational driving force that can smoothly rotate the pair of rear wheels 16r.

[0021] The driving force transmission mechanism 54 is made up of a plurality of gears, pulleys, chains, etc., provided between the output shaft of the motor 48 and the axle 46, and transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 48 to the axle 46. For example, a centrifugal clutch that seamlessly engages the clutch based on the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 40 can be applied to the driving force transmission mechanism 54.

[0022] The power adjustment unit 50 is provided above the motor 48. Under the control of the ECU 56, the power adjustment unit 50 appropriately adjusts the power of the battery 60 supplied to the motor 48. Furthermore, if the motor 48 is an AC motor, the power adjustment unit 50 is configured to convert the DC power of the battery 60 into three-phase AC power and supply it to the motor 48.

[0023] The racing kart 12 is provided with a battery case 70 (battery storage section) that detachably stores the battery 60. The battery case 70 according to this embodiment is provided on each side of the seat 18 (two in total). The two battery cases 70 are provided symmetrically with respect to the center line CL of the vehicle body 14 in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] Each battery case 70 is formed in the shape of a long rectangular tube extending from a front end 72 (including at least a bottom wall 84, described below, that is provided at a position opposite a lid body 78 and / or an opening 80, described below) to a rear end 74 (including at least the lid body 78 and / or the opening 80, described below). Each battery case 70 is fixed to a pair of storage section frames 26c that are connected to the main panel 24 at positions adjacent to the sides of the seat 18. The pair of storage section frames 26c are configured in the shape of a basket that can accommodate the front end 72 (lower part) of each battery case 70 by interconnecting a surrounding frame 26c1 that surrounds the side periphery of the battery case 70, a plurality of vertical frames 26c2 that extend forward and downward from the surrounding frame 26c1, and a plurality of horizontal frames 26c3 to which the plurality of vertical frames 26c2 are connected and which support the side bumper 44.

[0025] The holding openings of the surrounding frame 26c1, into which the battery cases 70 can be inserted, are inclined rearward and upward. Each battery case 70 inserted into each accommodation frame 26c through the holding openings is inclined in accordance with the shape of the accommodation frame 26c. The lowermost corner 72c (see FIG. 2) of the front end 72 of each battery case 70 is connected to a predetermined horizontal frame 26c3 by appropriate fastening means such as welding. A junction box (not shown) that distributes power from the battery 60 to the PU 52, ECU 56, etc. is provided at the connection point between the battery case 70 and the horizontal frame 26c3 (or at the main panel 24 adjacent to the connection point). Note that the junction box may be provided inside the battery case 70 on the front end 72 side.

[0026] Each battery case 70 fixed to the housing frame 26c is inclined so that, in a side view of the vehicle body 14, at least a portion of the battery case 70 overlaps the seat 18 and the rear end 74 is positioned higher than the front end 72. Furthermore, the battery cases 70 installed on both sides of the seat 18 in the vehicle width direction are fixed in the same orientation as each other in a side view of the vehicle body 14. That is, in the racing kart 12, a pair of battery cases 70 are fixed in symmetrical positions and in the same orientation with the vehicle width center line CL as the base point (axis of symmetry). This allows the center of gravity of each battery 60, which is a heavy object, to be aligned with the vehicle width center line CL when the battery 60 is housed in each battery case 70.

[0027] Each battery case 70 is disposed between the seat 18 and the side bumper 44. The side bumper 44 protrudes most outward in the vehicle width direction at the position of the battery case 70 (accommodation frame 26c). The front end 72 of each battery case 70 is located rearward of the front end 18f of the seat 18. This ensures a space between the front wheel 16f and the side frame 26b for the user U to board the seat 18. In addition, the front end 72 is located forward of the rear wheel 16r in a side view of the vehicle body 14.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3A , the lower end (corner 72c) of the front end 72 of each battery case 70 is located lower than the top of the rear wheel 16r (specifically, the upper end 17), and is therefore sufficiently close to the road surface R. This allows the center of gravity of the racing kart 12 to be lowered, improving running stability. The inclination angle θ between the road surface R and the axis O of each battery case 70, which is the insertion / removal direction of the battery 60, is not particularly limited, but is preferably set smaller than the inclination angle between the road surface R and the backrest 22 of the seat 18. For example, the actual value of the inclination angle θ is preferably set to be smaller than 90°, preferably within a range of 20° to 50°. This allows the upper inclined side surface 77 of the battery case 70 to appropriately deflect wind blowing from the front when the racing kart 12 is running.

[0029] 2 and 3A, the rear end portion 74 of each battery case 70 is located rearward of the seat 18 in a side view of the vehicle body 14 and above the rear wheel 16r (at a position overlapping the rear wheel 16r in a plan view of the vehicle body 14). In other words, the rear end portion 74 of each battery case 70 is located at a predetermined distance from the seat 18 and the rear wheel 16r.

[0030] Each battery case 70 includes a housing body 76 having a housing space 76a that houses the battery 60, and a lid 78 that is rotatably attached to the housing body 76 via a hinge portion 79 at an opening 80 (described later). An opening 80 that communicates with the housing space 76a is provided in the upper portion (rear end portion 74 side) of the housing body 76 that is closed by the lid 78.

[0031] The opening 80 of each battery case 70 is provided perpendicular to the axis O of the battery case 70, and is inclined so as to face rearward and upward from the vehicle body 14. In a side view of the vehicle body 14, each opening 80 is located rearward from the seat 18, and is provided at a position higher than the top of the rear wheel 16r (more specifically, the upper end 17), with at least a portion of the opening 80 being provided at the same height as the upper end 22t of the backrest 22 of the seat 18, and at least a portion of the opening 80 being provided higher than the upper end 22t of the backrest 22 of the seat 18. The opening 80 is provided at a position higher than the top of the rear wheel 16r (more specifically, the upper end 17), or is provided at the same height as the upper end 22t of the backrest 22 of the seat 18, or at least a portion of the opening 80 is provided above the upper end 22t of the backrest 22 of the seat 18, so that the opening 80 can be provided at a height position where the back of the user U will come into contact when seated on the seat 18, and can be set at a position where the user U does not have to bend over significantly when storing or removing the battery 60. The height H of the center position of the opening 80 from the road surface R is preferably in the range of 50 cm to 100 cm, for example.

[0032] The opening 80 is closed by a lid 78. The accommodating body 76 and the lid 78 are provided with a locking mechanism 88 on the opposite side of the hinge portion 79, which can lock with each other. The locking mechanism 88 prevents the battery 60 accommodated in the accommodating space 76a from falling out by locking when the lid 78 is in a closed state of the opening 80. The battery case 70 may be configured without the lid 78. This can further simplify the installation of the battery 60 in the battery case 70. In addition, in a configuration without the lid 78, the opening 80 is formed at the rear end 74 of the battery case 70.

[0033] The storage body 76 of the battery case 70 has four side walls 82 connected to one another to form the storage space 76a, and a bottom wall 84 connected to the lower part of each side wall 82. The four side walls 82 and the bottom wall 84 define the axis O of the storage space 76a and guide the insertion and removal direction of the battery 60. In other words, the side walls 82 are arranged parallel to the insertion and removal direction of the battery 60.

[0034] Of the four side walls 82 of the housing body 76, the upper side wall 82a and the lower side wall 82b may have a plurality of ventilation holes 83 communicating with the housing space 76a. The plurality of ventilation holes 83 allow wind generated when the racing kart 12 is running to enter the housing space 76a, thereby allowing the battery 60 to be cooled by the wind.

[0035] Furthermore, the side wall 82b located on the lower side may be formed to be thicker than the other side walls 82 (upper side wall 82a). This provides the lower side wall 82b with sufficient rigidity to withstand the load received from the battery 60 when the battery 60 is inserted or removed, making it possible to smoothly guide the battery 60.

[0036] A terminal 86 is provided on the surface of the bottom wall 84 facing the storage space 76a. When the battery 60 is stored, the terminal 86 is in electrical contact with the terminal 68 of the battery 60, enabling power to be output to the electrical components of the racing kart 12.

[0037] The battery 60 mounted in the battery case 70 is configured as a general-purpose battery that can be detachably mounted in various devices. For example, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the battery 60 has a housing 62 formed in an overall rectangular column shape, and a handle 64 for a user U to hold is provided at one axial end of the housing 62. The battery 60 also includes a plurality of battery cells 66 for storing and discharging power within the housing 62, and terminals 68 for inputting and outputting power at predetermined positions on the outer surface of the housing 62. The terminals 68 are provided, for example, on the end surface opposite (or on the same side as) the handle 64, and come into contact with a terminal 86 inside the battery case 70 when the battery 60 is housed in the battery case 70.

[0038] When the battery 60 is housed in the housing body 76 and the lid 78 is closed (when the locking mechanism 88 is locked), the inner surface of the lid 78 (contact portion 78a) comes into contact with and presses against the upper end portion (e.g., the handle 64) of the battery 60. This maintains good contact between the terminals 68 of the battery 60 and the terminals 86 of the battery case 70.

[0039] 2, the ECU 56 is, for example, connected to the upper part of the power adjustment unit 50 and constitutes part of the electrical equipment of the racing kart 12. The ECU 56 is constituted by a computer having one or more processors, memories, input / output interfaces, electronic circuits, etc. The ECU 56 acquires the accelerator operation amount of the accelerator pedal 40 and outputs an appropriate power command to the power adjustment unit 50 based on this accelerator operation amount, thereby controlling the rotation speed of the motor 48.

[0040] The ECU 56 is also configured to appropriately distribute the electric power of each battery 60 housed in the pair of battery cases 70 to the motor 48 via a junction box (not shown). For example, the ECU 56 controls the motor 48 so that one battery 60 is used until its remaining charge falls below a predetermined value, and then the other battery 60 is used when the remaining charge falls below the predetermined value. Alternatively, the ECU 56 may be configured to use the electric power of the two batteries 60 approximately equally. For example, the ECU 56 may use the electric power of one battery 60 when the rotation speed of the motor 48 is low, and use the electric power of both batteries 60 when the rotation speed of the motor 48 is high.

[0041] The running vehicle 10 (racing kart 12) according to this embodiment is basically configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.

[0042] Before traveling, a user U (or an assistant) of the racing kart 12 places a battery 60 in each of the pair of battery cases 70. At this time, the user U rotates the lid body 78 relative to the storage body 76 to open the opening 80, as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0043] As described above, in the racing kart 12, the opening 80 of the battery case 70 is located behind the seat 18 and above the pair of rear wheels 16r. This allows the user U to access the opening 80 from the rear side of the vehicle body 14 and easily align the lower part of the battery 60, which is a heavy object, with the opening 80. The user U also inserts the battery 60 into the interior of the storage space 76a by aligning the orientation of the battery 60 with the axis O of the battery case 70. At this time, each side wall 82 of the battery case 70 smoothly guides the insertion of the battery 60 along the axis O, and the lower side wall 82b bears part of the load from the battery 60.

[0044] 3B, when the lower part of the battery 60 is inserted close to the bottom wall 84, the terminals 86 of the battery case 70 come into contact with the terminals 68 of the battery 60. Thereafter, the user U closes the lid 78 and locks the accommodating body 76 and the lid 78 with the locking mechanism 88, thereby preventing the battery 60 from coming out of the battery case 70.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 , a user U sits in a seat 18 and turns on a starter switch or the like, which supplies power from a battery 60 to each electrical component and starts the racing kart 12. The user then depresses the accelerator pedal 40 and grips and operates the handlebars 32 to drive the racing kart 12. The racing kart 12 includes battery cases 70, each housing a battery 60, on both sides of the seat 18 in the vehicle width direction, so that the center of gravity of the entire battery 60 is positioned on the center line CL in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, because the center of gravity of the entire battery 60 is located behind the seat 18 in a plan view of the vehicle body 14, the user U can more easily operate the handlebars 32, resulting in high cornering performance.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2 , each battery 60 is inclined above the rear wheels 16r. That is, one end of the battery 60 (specifically, one end) is provided in front of the rear wheels 16r and the other end (specifically, the other end) is provided above the rear wheels 16r. This allows the battery 60 to apply a load at a low position on the vehicle body 14 and in the vicinity of each rear wheel 16r, thereby increasing the grip of each rear wheel 16r. Furthermore, each battery case 70 is inclined so that the front end 72 of the battery case 70 is located rearward of the front end 18f of the seat 18 and the rear end 74 is higher than the front end 72. Therefore, the front side of the battery case 70 (front end 72) is positioned low to the side of the seat 18, thereby minimizing obstruction of the user U's lateral field of view. In other words, by appropriately positioning the battery cases 70 as described above, the racing kart 12 can further improve its running stability.

[0047] When the racing kart 12 is traveling, it is subjected to wind from the front. Each battery case 70 is inclined so that the front end 72 is low and the rear end 74 is high, allowing this wind to be easily deflected rearward. Therefore, the racing kart 12 can travel with reduced wind resistance.

[0048] The pair of battery cases 70 including the pair of storage frame 26c are arranged on the sides of and adjacent to the seat 18, thereby preventing the other racing kart 12 from coming into contact with the user U when the other racing kart 12 collides with the other racing kart 12 from the side. In other words, the racing kart 12 can use each battery case 70 as a structural part that protects the user U.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the racing kart 12 may be configured to include one battery case 70 on one side of the seat 18. In this case, the vehicle body 14 may be designed such that the seat 18 is shifted laterally from the vehicle width center line CL so that the center of gravity of the battery 60 housed in the battery case 70 and the user U seated in the seat 18 is located approximately on the vehicle width center line CL.

[0050] Also, for example, the racing kart 12 may have the battery case 70 mounted on the vehicle body 14 so that the height of the rear end 74 of the battery case 70 is lower than the upper end 22t of the seat 18. Furthermore, the batteries 60 and battery cases 70 may be formed smaller than those shown in Figures 1 to 3B, and a configuration may be adopted in which multiple batteries 60 and battery cases 70 are provided on one side of the seat 18 and multiple batteries are provided on the other side of the seat 18.

[0051] 4, the traveling vehicle 10A (racing kart 12A) may be configured so that at least a portion of the battery case 70A protrudes rearward beyond the rear wheels 16r. Specifically, the rear end 74 (lid 78 and opening 80) of the battery case 70A protrudes rearward beyond the rear wheels 16r. This further improves the ease with which the battery 60 can be inserted into and removed from the battery case 70.

[0052] Furthermore, the battery 60 does not have to be detachable from the battery storage unit (battery case 70). In other words, the battery 60 and the battery storage unit may be stationary batteries that do not have terminals 68, 86, respectively, and are electrically connected to the electrical components using a harness or the like.

[0053] The technical ideas and effects that can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below.

[0054] One aspect of the present invention is a traveling vehicle 10, 10A that includes a body 14 having a seat 18 on which a user U can sit, and a plurality of wheels 16 provided on the body 14, and in which the height of at least a portion of the seat surface 20 of the seat 18 is lower than the top of the plurality of wheels 16, and the body 14 includes a battery storage section (battery case 70, 70A) that stores a battery 60 on the side of the seat 18, and the battery storage section is inclined so that, when viewed from the side of the body 14, at least a portion of the battery storage section overlaps with the seat 18 and the rear end 74 is positioned higher than the front end 72.

[0055] As described above, the vehicle 10, 10A has a battery storage unit (battery case 70, 70A) that is inclined so that the rear end 74 is higher than the front end 72, thereby allowing the vehicle body 14 to be lower than if the battery storage unit were disposed vertically. This allows the vehicle 10, 10A to unobstruct the forward and lateral visibility of the user U and lower the center of gravity, improving driving stability. Furthermore, the inclined battery storage unit effectively reduces resistance to wind from the front while the vehicle is running. Furthermore, the battery storage unit disposed to the side of the seat 18 can protect the user U in the event of a side collision.

[0056] Furthermore, the front end 72 of the battery storage section (battery case 70, 70A) is located behind the front end 18f of the seat 18. This prevents the battery storage section from blocking the user U's lateral field of vision.

[0057] Furthermore, the rear end 74 of the battery storage unit (battery case 70, 70A) is located behind the seat 18. In this way, the rear end 74 of the battery storage unit provided on the side of the seat 18 is located behind the seat 18, so that the traveling vehicle 10, 10A can ensure good visibility to the side of the user U.

[0058] Furthermore, at least a portion of the battery storage unit (battery case 70, 70A) is provided in a position that overlaps with the rear wheel 16r that constitutes part of the plurality of wheels 16 in a plan view of the vehicle body 14. This allows the traveling vehicle 10, 10A to have a compact length in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 14, and also makes it easier to apply the weight of the battery 60 near the rear wheel 16r, thereby increasing the ground contact load (grip force) of the rear wheel 16r. Furthermore, since the battery storage unit is provided at the rear, it becomes easier to ensure the user U's lateral visibility.

[0059] Furthermore, the battery storage section (battery case 70, 70A) has a front end 72 located forward of the rear wheels 16r in a side view of the vehicle body, and a rear end 74 located in a position overlapping the rear wheels 16r in a plan view of the vehicle body 14. This allows each battery 60 stored in the battery storage section to apply a load to a low position on the vehicle body 14 and in the vicinity of each rear wheel 16r, thereby increasing the grip force of each rear wheel 16r.

[0060] Furthermore, the front end 72 of the battery housing (battery case 70, 70A) is provided below the upper part (upper end 17) of the rear wheel 16r, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the racing kart 12 and improving running stability.

[0061] Furthermore, the battery 60 can be freely attached to and detached from the battery storage section (battery case 70, 70A), and the battery storage section has an opening 80 for accommodating the battery 60 or an opening / closing section (lid 78) that can open and close the opening 80 at the rear end 74. This allows the opening 80 for attaching and detaching the battery 60 to be located higher in the traveling vehicles 10, 10A than if the battery storage section were provided horizontally, reducing the amount of bending (bending) that the user U has to do. This allows the user U to insert and remove the battery 60 more easily.

[0062] Furthermore, at least a part of the opening 80 or at least a part of the opening / closing portion (lid 78) is provided at the same height as the upper end 22t of the seat 18 or higher than the upper end 22t of the seat 18. This allows the user U to insert or remove the battery 60 from the battery storage portion (battery case 70, 70A) without having to bend significantly from an upright position.

[0063] Furthermore, at least a portion of the battery storage section (battery cases 70, 70A) is provided behind the rear wheel 16r that constitutes part of the plurality of wheels 16. This allows the user U to easily insert and remove the battery 60 from the rear side of the vehicle body 14.

[0064] The vehicle also has an electrical equipment unit (PU52) that receives power from a battery 60, and the electrical equipment unit is provided behind the seat 18 and at a position where it overlaps at least a portion of the seat 18 when viewed in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 14. This makes it possible to prevent the electrical equipment unit from being affected by wind from the front.

[0065] Furthermore, the electrical equipment unit (PU 52) is provided below the upper end 22t of the seat 18. This allows the racing kart 12 to travel with even less resistance to the wind while traveling.

[0066] Furthermore, the electrical equipment unit (PU52) is provided at a position where, in a side view of the vehicle body 14, at least a portion of the electrical equipment unit overlaps with a rear wheel 16r that constitutes a part of the plurality of wheels 16. This allows the electrical equipment unit to apply a load to a position near each rear wheel 16r, thereby increasing the gripping force of each rear wheel 16r.

Claims

1. A traveling vehicle (10, 10A) comprising: a vehicle body (14) having a seat (18) on which a user (U) can sit; and a plurality of wheels (16) provided on the vehicle body, wherein the height of at least a portion of a seat surface (20) of the seat is lower than the top of the plurality of wheels, The seat has a backrest portion (22) that is inclined rearward and upward from the seat surface, The vehicle body includes a battery housing portion (70, 70A) for housing a battery (60) on a side of the backrest portion, The battery storage section is inclined so that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the backrest section in a side view of the vehicle body and a rear end portion (74) is positioned higher than a front end portion (72), a lowermost end (72c) of the front end portion of the battery storage portion is provided below an upper portion (17) of a rear wheel (16r) constituting a part of the plurality of wheels; A vehicle for traveling, characterized in that at least a part of the rear end of the battery storage section is provided above an upper end (22t) of the backrest section.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, A vehicle characterized in that the front end of the battery storage section is located rearward of the front end (18f) of the seat.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle, wherein the rear end of the battery storage section is located rearward of the seat.

4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the battery storage section is provided in a position overlapping with the rear wheel in a plan view of the vehicle body.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, A vehicle for running, characterized in that the front end of the battery storage section is located forward of the rear wheel when viewed from the side of the vehicle body, and the rear end is located in a position overlapping the rear wheel when viewed from the top of the vehicle body.

6. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the battery is detachable from the battery housing; The vehicle is characterized in that the battery storage section has, at the rear end, an opening (80) for storing the battery or an opening / closing section (78) that can open and close the opening.

7. 7. The vehicle according to claim 6, A vehicle characterized in that at least a part of the opening or at least a part of the opening / closing portion is provided at the same height as the upper end (22t) of the seat or above the upper end of the seat.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, A vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the battery storage section is provided rearward of the rear wheels.

9. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, an electrical equipment section (52) that receives power from the battery; The electric component is provided behind the seat and at a position where it overlaps at least a part of the seat when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, The vehicle is characterized in that the electrical equipment section is provided below an upper end of the seat.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, The electric component is disposed at a position where it at least partially overlaps with the rear wheel in a side view of the vehicle body.

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